Modular hot plates

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a set of modular table model hot plates for cooking having substantially square or rectangular outlines in plan view, comprising the following features in combination: (a) each hot plate forms a module having one or more sides of the square or rectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sides of one or more other hot plates of the set when placed in close fitting side by side relationship; (b) each hot plate of the set having a vitreous ceramic top covering one or more radiant heating element bodies; (c) said vitreous ceramic tops of the set, when the individual modules are placed side by side with said matching sides in close fitting contact, combine to form a level top surface, interrupted by joint lines of minimal width between the vitreous ceramic tops. A conventional silicone adhesive may be used for bonding the vitreous ceramic top onto the shoulder or flange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to table model hot plates for cooking,i.e. self-supporting hot plates for use on a table or like support asdistinct on the one hand from cooking plates for fixed installation inthe working surface of built-in hot plates of free-standing cookingranges or stoves.

2. Background of the Invention

In all of the aforegoing, vitreous ceramic tops (a glass-like heatresistant material) covering one or more radiant heating element bodiesare becoming increasingly popular because of their appearance, easilycleaned cooking surface and high energy efficiency. Conventionally, ifsuch appliances comprise a plurality of cooking positions, often threeor more, each having its own individual, independently controllableradiant heating element body or body set, a single vitreous ceramic topis used to cover all of these. Such large vitreous ceramic tops arerelatively expensive and suffer from the disadvantage that any breakage,even if affecting only a small part, e.g. only one of the cookingpositions, necessitates replacement of the entire top.

The conventional constructions also afford a very limited range ofvariety, because it would usually be uneconomical to manufacture morethan a small selection of combinations of cooking or warming positionsto fit any particular size of vitreous ceramic top. Also, even withinsuch limited scope for variation, if at any stage it should becomenecessary to change an existing combination, e.g. of different sizes orshapes of cooking positions, it will normally be necessary to replacethe entire unit.

Conventional permanently installed constructions usually only lendthemselves to a limited choice of installation localities within a givenkitchen design. For example the conventional tops of standard appliancessuch as dishwashers, washing machines or tumble driers do not normallylend themselves for use as supports for a cooking surface. The sameapplies to loose items of furniture, such as tables or serving trolleys,to mention but a few examples.

A further disadvantage of conventional cooking and warming appliancesforming part of permanently installed kitchen furniture is theirimmobility. If mobility is required, the user will have to invest inadditional mobile appliances such as separate table top model hot platesor warming plates and find storage place for such appliances when not inuse.

All of the above drawbacks are of even greater impact in the usualdomestic environment of disadvantaged population groups where housingconditions may be confined and cramped and where funds for investment incooking and warming appliances are limited.

These disadvantages, however, also apply in the case of caravans(trailer homes), dormobiles and holiday cabins, where greater mobilityof cooking appliances would be a desirable feature.

On the other hand, ordinary movable table top hot plates and warmingplates do not solve these problems either. They are but a poorsubstitute for a built-in or free-standing kitchen range. One of theformer alone is usually too small, having fewer than the desired numberand less variety of cooking points. Yet to employ two or more of theseside by side is unsatisfactory from points of view of aesthetics, spaceutilisation and cleaning.

There accordingly exists a need to overcome the aforegoingdisadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides a set of modular table model hotplates for cooking having substantially square or rectangular outlinesin plan view, comprising the following features in combination:

a) each hot plate forms a module having one or more sides of the squareor rectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sides of one ormore other hot plates of the set when placed in close fitting side byside relationship;

b) each hot plate of the set having a vitreous ceramic top covering oneor more radiant heating element bodies;

c) said vitreous ceramic tops of the set, when the individual modulesare placed side by side with said matching sides in close fittingcontact, combine to form a level top surface, interrupted by joint linesof minimal width between the vitreous ceramic tops. The vitreous ceramictops, which are preferably adhesively bonded in conventional manner ontoa marginal shoulder or flange at the top of the base of each unit haveoutlines as closely as practical matching the plan view outlines of thesides of the units but not projecting these beyond in order not tointerfere with the close fitting contact of the sides of adjoiningunits. A conventional silicone adhesive may be used for bonding thevitreous ceramic top onto the shoulder or flange.

Optionally, but not preferably each vitreous ceramic top may be borderedby retaining ledges, one or more of which constitute the upper part of aside as defined in a). Although these retaining ledges facilitatepositioning of the vitreous ceramic tops during assembly and obviate theuse of assembly jigs, they impose limitations on the extent to which thejoint between adjoining vitreous ceramic tops can be minimised due tothe minimum thickness of the material (usually sheet metal) of theledges.

These ledges, if present, may be as narrow as about 0.5-2.5, morepreferably 0.7 to 1.7 mm. say 1 mm. More preferably the ledges areomitted entirely, permitting the vitreous ceramic tops to adjoin asclosely as manufacturing tolerances allow.

Preferably the side lengths of the modules are equal to form one or moresquare modules, or, when different, the longer side lengths are wholenumber multiples of the shorter side lengths. These side lengths arepreferably selected so that they or multiples thereof substantiallycorrespond to standard side lengths of table and appliance tops, inparticular standard table tops in modular kitchen furniture.

Preferably one side, usually the front of each module is designed as acontrol panel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads,knobs and/or dials and optionally one or more pilot lights.

A particular embodiment of such set includes a corner module havingessentially square or rectangular outlines as aforesaid, but modified inthat one corner is chamfered to form a fifth side, the fifth side, whichis preferably considerably shorter than any of the remaining sides,being designed as a control panel carrying operating and/or controlbuttons, touch pads, knobs or dials and optionally one or more pilotlights.

In use such a set may comprise a plurality of modules arrayed in anL-shaped configuration with a corner module as aforesaid forming thecorner of the L. Alternatively, at least one said corner module is setup for the chamfered corner to be at an end of a rectilinear successionof modules. Advantageously, the set includes locating and positionretaining means for retaining the modules in their relative positions,having been placed in a selected array. For example, the locating andposition retaining means are devices adapted to engage with supportbuttons or feet of adjoining modules. Alternatively, the locating andposition retaining means are catches or clips for locking together theadjoining sides of adjoining modules.

The scope of the invention extends to the individual modules of the setadapted to be used in combination as described above, more particularlyby incorporating some or all of the features as set out above.

The individual modules may be supplied with plans and/or instructions,e.g. in or on a package, e.g. a carton containing one or more modules,explaining layouts for combining modules in advantageous arrays.

The invention further includes in its scope, a pentagonal table modelhot plate, usable as a corner module in a set as disclosed above, havingsquare or rectangular outlines as aforesaid, one corner of which ischamfered to form a fifth side, this fifth side being designed as acontrol panel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads,knobs or dials and optionally one or more pilot lights. Besides thevisual attractiveness of this design the construction offers theadvantage that, when placed on a rectangular or square table or likesupport, the operating and control means are protected by being recessedin relation to the corner of the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the followingnon-limiting illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of a set of two hot plate modules,assembled in a linear array:

FIG. 2 is an isometric projection of a corner hot plate module, suitableas part of a set including a chamfered corner;

FIG. 3 is an isometric projection of three hot plate modules of a setarranged in an L-shaped configuration;

FIG. 4 represents a plan view of a locating clip for holding togetheradjoining modules of a set; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective elevation of three hot plate modules of a setarranged in rectilinear succession.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 there is shown two hot plate modules 10 and 20 combined in alinear array. Hot plate module 10 has rectangular outlines in plan viewand hot plate module 20 has square outlines in plan view. Each squarehot plate module 20 has four sides of equal length 201, 202, 203 and204. Each rectangular hot plate module 10 has two opposite short sides101 and 103 exactly matching in length a side of the square module 20and two equal opposite long sides 102, 104, the length of which is amultiple, in this example twice the length of the short sides 101, 103.

The hot plates include a base 2, having said rectangular outlines and avitreous ceramic top 11, 21 covering one or more radiant heating elementbodies 110. Each vitreous ceramic top 11, 21 may be bordered byretaining ledges 12, 22, the thickness of which have been greatlyexaggerated in the drawing, being in practice only about 1 mm thick, andwhich if present, constitute the upper part of the sides of the hotplate module. Alternatively and preferably the retaining ledges areomitted entirely.

The vitreous ceramic tops are each bonded with silicone or equivalentadhesive onto a shoulder or marginal flange at 3.

The broken lines 1 indicate that further modules can be added on in avariety of manners to extend the array of modules as needed and to matchan available kitchen furniture top area or other working top area. It isclear that the set of modules offers a great many options to meetcustomer requirements at any given time, while permitting the removal ofindividual modules for temporary use elsewhere, e.g. in a different roomor even outdoors.

The hot plate modules are placed side by side with the matching sides inclose fitting contact so that the vitreous ceramic tops 11, 21 of thehot plates combine to form a top level surface, interrupted only by thejoint lines formed by the retaining edges 12 and 22.

The longer side lengths of the hot plate module 10 as shown are twicethe length of the shorter side lengths. However, it will be understoodthat modules may be provided having longer side lengths three or moretimes the shorter side length.

The front side of the modules 13, 23 are designed as control panelscarrying control dials 14A, 14B and 24 and optionally pilot lights. Thecontrol dials switch on and off and control the temperature of theradiant heating element bodies 110.

The direction in which the control panels of the individual modules aremade to face in a given array is optional.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a corner hot plate module having essentiallythe same square outlines as module 20 in FIG. 1 but modified in that onecorner is chamfered to form a fifth side 31 connecting the shortenedsides 201 a and 204 a The fifth side 31 is considerably shorter than anyof the remaining sides and is designed as a control panel and carries acontrol dial 32 for switching on and off and controlling the temperatureof the radiant heating element bodies 110. The module includes a powersupply cord 33.

FIG. 3 illustrates three hot plate modules 40A, 40B and 40C (the latteridentical to square module 20 in FIG. 1) arranged in an L-shapedconfiguration with a corner module 40B as shown in FIG. 2 having achamfered corner to form a fifth side 42B forming the corner of the L.In addition, a second corner module 40A is set up for fifth side 42Aresulting from the chamfered corner to be at an end of the L-shape. Asin FIG. 1, broken lines 1 diagrammatically indicate an optionalextension of the array with one or more further modules.

Each module includes a control panel (the fifth side of the cornermodules) which carries a control dial 41A, 41B and 41C for controllingthe temperature of the radiant heating element bodies (not shown).

FIG. 5 illustrates three modules 50A, 50B and 50C arranged inrectilinear succession. Two corner modules 50A and 50C as shown in FIG.2 are set up for the fifth sides 52A and 52C resulting from thechamfered corners to be at either end of the succession of modules. Theintermediate module 50B is a square module like module 20 in FIG. 1 orcould be a rectangular module like module 10 in FIG. 1. Each modulecarries a control dial 51A, 51B and 51C on the front control panel (thefifth side in the corner modules). The control dial is for controllingthe temperature of the radiant element heating bodies (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 4, a resilient clip 4 of rubber is shown havingopen-ended rebates 5 for accommodating rubber feet 6 on the underside ofthe corner regions of adjoining modules (not shown). These clipsrepresent one of a variety of possibilities for optionally stabilisingthe relative positions of adjoining modules in a given array.

The claims which follow are to be considered an integral part of thepresent disclosure. Reference numbers (directed to the drawings) shownin the claims serve to facilitate the correlation of the integers of theclaims with illustrated features of the preferred embodiments, but arenot intended to restrict in any way the language of the claims to whatis shown in the drawings, unless the contrary is clearly apparent fromthe context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A set of table model hot plates for cookinghaving substantially square (20) or rectangular (10) outlines in planview, comprising the following features in combination: a) each hotplate forms a portable module having one or more sides of the square orrectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sides of one or moreother hot plates of the set when placed in close fitting side by siderelationship; b) each hot plate of the set having a vitreous ceramic top(11, 21) covering one or more radiant heating element bodies; and c)said vitreous ceramic tops of the set, when the individual modules areplaced with said matching sides in close fitting contact, combine toform a level top surface, interrupted only by joint lines of minimalwidth between the vitreous ceramic tops.
 2. A set as claimed in claim 1,wherein the side lengths of the modules are equal to form one or moresquare modules or, when different, the longer side lengths are wholenumber multiples of the shorter side lengths.
 3. A set as claimed inclaim 1, wherein one side of each module is designed as a control panelcarrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs and/ordials (14A, 14B, 24) and optionally one or more pilot lights.
 4. A setas claimed in claim 1, including a corner module of which one corner ofthe square or rectangular outlines is chamfered to form a fifth side(31), this fifth side (31) being designed as a control panel carryingoperating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs or dials (32) andoptionally one or more pilot lights.
 5. A set as claimed in claim 4comprising a plurality of the modules arrayed in an L-shapedconfiguration with a corner module (40B) as aforesaid forming the cornerof the L.
 6. A set as claimed in claim 1, including locating andposition retaining means (4, 5, 6) for retaining the modules in theirrelative positions, having been placed in a selected array.
 7. A set asclaimed in claim 6 wherein the locating and position retaining means (4,5, 6) are devices adapted to engage with support buttons or feet ofadjoining modules.
 8. A set as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locatingand position retaining means (4, 5, 6) are catches, or clips for lockingtogether the adjoining sides of adjoining modules.
 9. A set as claimedin claim 4, in which at least one said corner module is set up for thechamfered corner to be at an end of a rectilinear succession of modules.10. A table model hot plate module for a set as claimed in claim 4,having substantially square (20) or rectangular (10) outlines in planeview adapted to match one or more sides of one or more other hot platesof the set in close fitting relationship and having a vitro-ceramicglass top (11, 21) covering one or more heating element bodies (110), inwhich one corner of the square or rectangular outlines is chamfered toform a fifth side (31), this fifth side (31) being designed as a controlpanel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs ordials and optionally one or more pilot lights.
 11. A set of table modelhot plates for cooking having substantially square (20) or rectangular(10) outlines in plan view, comprising the following features incombination: a) each hot plate forms a module having one or more sidesof the square or rectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sidesof one or more other hot plates of the set when placed in close fittingside by side relationship, said hot plates of the set including a cornermodule of which one corner of the square or rectangular outlines ischamfered to form a fifth side (31), this fifth side (31) being designedas a control panel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touchpads, knobs or dials (32) and optionally one or more pilot lights; b)each hot plate of the set having a vitreous ceramic top (11, 21)covering one or more radiant heating element bodies; and c) saidvitreous ceramic tops of the set, when the individual modules are placedwith said matching sides in close fitting contact, combine to form alevel top surface, interrupted only by joint lines of minimal widthbetween the vitreous ceramic tops.
 12. A set of table model hot platesfor cooking having substantially square (20) or rectangular (10)outlines in plan view, comprising the following features in combination:a) each hot plate forms a module having one or more sides of the squareor rectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sides of one ormore other hot plates of the set when placed in close fitting side byside relationship, said hot plates of the set including a corner moduleof which one corner of the square or rectangular outlines is chamferedto form a fifth side (31), this fifth side (31) being designed as acontrol panel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads,knobs or dials (32) and optionally one or more pilot lights, whereby aplurality of the modules are arrayed in an L-shaped configuration with acorner module (40B) as aforesaid forming the corner of the L. b) eachhot plate of the set having a vitreous ceramic top (11, 21) covering oneor more radiant heating element bodies; and c) said vitreous ceramictops of the set, when the individual modules are placed with saidmatching sides in close fitting contact combine to form a level topsurface, interrupted only by joint lines of minimal width between thevitreous ceramic tops.
 13. A set of table model hot plates for cookinghaving substantially square (20) or rectangular (10) outlines in planview, comprising the following features in combination: a) each hotplate forms a module having one or more sides of the square orrectangular outlines exactly matching one or more sides of one or moreother hot plates of the set when placed in close fitting side by siderelationship, said hot plates of the set including a corner module ofwhich one corner of the square or rectangular outlines is chamfered toform a fifth side (31), this fifth side (31) being designed as a controlpanel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs ordials (32) and optionally one or more pilot lights, wherein at least onesaid corner module is set up for the chamfered corner to be at an end ofa rectilinear succession of modules, b) each hot plate of the set havinga vitreous ceramic top (11, 21) covering one or more radiant heatingelement bodies; and c) said vitreous ceramic tops of the set, when theindividual modules are placed with said matching sides in close fittingcontact, combine to form a level top surface, interrupted only by jointlines of minimal width between the vitreous ceramic tops.
 14. A set oftable model hot plates for cooking having substantially square (20) orrectangular (10) outlines in plan view, comprising the followingfeatures in combination: a) each hot plate forms a module having one ormore sides of the square or rectangular outlines adapted to match one ormore sides of one or more other hot plates of the set in close fittingrelationship, said hot plates of the set including a corner module ofwhich one corner of the square or rectangular outlines is chamfered toform a fifth side (31), this fifth side (31) being designed as a controlpanel carrying operating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs ordials (32) and optionally one or more pilot lights; b) each hot plate ofthe set having a vitro-ceramic glass top (11, 21) covering one or moreheating element bodies; and c) said vitro-ceramic glass tops of the set,when the individual modules are placed with said matching sides in closefitting contact, combine to form a level top surface, interrupted onlyby joint lines of minimal width between the vitro-ceramic glass tops.